The 45th death anniversary of former Bangladesh president and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) founder Ziaur Rahman will be observed today, May 30.

Ziaur Rahman was killed on May 30, 1981, at the Chattogram Circuit House by a group of rogue army officers.

To mark the anniversary, BNP has announced an eight-day programme from May 25 to June 1.

According to the programme, special posters are being displayed across the country from May 25 to June 1, while party leaders and activists are wearing black badges.

On May 30 at 6:00 am, party flags will be flown at half-mast and black flags hoisted at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan and at party offices across the country.

At 11:00 am, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to lead party leaders and activists in placing wreaths and offering prayers at Ziaur Rahman’s grave.

A dua mahfil organised by the Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal will be held at the site following the visit.

Food and clothing, including rice and lentils, will also be distributed among poor and underprivileged people in Dhaka North and South and in other party units across the country.

Party flags will also be flown at half-mast and black flags hoisted at district, metropolitan and other BNP offices nationwide.

Discussion meetings, prayer gatherings, and distributions of food and clothing among the poor will be organised in different areas, subject to local arrangements.

On May 31 at 2:00 pm, BNP will hold a discussion meeting at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Ramna, Dhaka.

Ziaur Rahman served as the sector commander of the “Z Force” during the 1971 Liberation War. He later founded BNP, one of Bangladesh’s major political parties.

Many credit him with introducing multi-party politics in Bangladesh and playing a leading role in regional cooperation initiatives that eventually led to the formation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The BNP, now led by his eldest son Tarique Rahman, won a majority in the parliamentary election held on February 12 and formed the government.

The anniversary is observed each year by BNP, its affiliated organisations and people from various walks of life through various commemorative programmes.